Filter-unit attachment for tobacco pipes



Aug. l5, 1939. E. H. LANGE FILTER-UNIT ATTACHMENT FOR TOBACCO PIPES Filed Aug. l2, 1937 1NVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATET GFFQE `IllL'lEl.-UNIT ATTACHMENT FOR TOBACCO PIPES Edward H. Lange, Baltimore, Md. Application August 12, 1937, Serial No. 158,812l 15 Claims. (Cl. ISI- 202) This invention relates to tobacco-pipes, and Fig. 4 shows a side View of the cover-member more particularly to a unit readily attachable to for covering the bottom of the tobacco-pipe. a pipe without the use of screws or pins through Fig. 5 shows a plan-view of the cover-member any thin walled portion of the pipe,` or in any of Fig. 4.

5 part of the body of the pipe, and by means of Fig. 6 shows a side View of the assembly of the 5 which a suitable filter-unit can be readily infilter-unit attachment, with the cover-member serted and ejected, at a location in the pipe pivotally attached to the projection.

yielding the greatest advantages in maintaining Fig. 7 shows a plan-view of the bottom of a a clean smoke-transmissionv conduit tothe mouthtobacco-pipe, prepared for insertion of a filter- 10 piece, and in simplicity and c'leanlinessoin operunit attachment. 10 ation in renewing a lter-unit, and by means of Fig. 8 shows a side-view of the assembled pipe,

which the handling of a used filter-unit is eL'miwith a vertical section of the tobacco-bowl memnated, together with the necessity for detaching ber, and. a filter-unit attachment and filter-unit tar-coated parts of the pipe. inserted.

Certain advantages of arenewable filter-unit in Fig. 9 shows a plan-view of the bottom of the 15 direct contact with the tobacco in the tobaccopine, with a filter-unit attachment inserted. bowl, at the bottom. of a charge of tobacco and Fig. l0 shows a side-view of part of a strip of immediately before the entrance to the smoke iiquid-absorbent material, and of the spacertransmission conduit, together with a plane-suf strip.

face pivoted member permitting. a non-binding Fig. 10a shows an end-view of the strip of 20 means for covering Vand uncovering, and insertion liquidabsorbent material, and of the spacerand ejection of the filter-unit, have `been prestrip.

viously pointed out in my U. S. Patent applica- Fig. 10b shows these strips after being spirallytion, Serial No. 11,930, and an object of this in- Wound, and in a side View.

vention is to apply these principles rin airim- Fig. 10C shows a plan-view of a gasket-member. 25 proved form of filter-unit attachment wln'ch can Fig. 6a. shows a side-view of a complete asbe readily manufactured by machine processes, sembly, of the lter-unit attachment, with the and attached to a pipe without the necessity of iilter-unit inserted. f using'pins or screws into the body of the pipe; Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, at 2a and 2b and further to apply these principles in an imare parts of a T-shaped member, preferably of 30 proved form of filter-unit for the filter-unit atsheet metal. The lower edges of the part 2a, may tachrnent, which lends itself readily to machine be tapered, as shown by the angle 2d, so that processes of manufacture. when the part 2a is formed into a cylindrically- A further object of this invention is to provide shaped member, the lower edges 2k are in the a filter-unit which can only be inserted into the same plane as the part 2h, which part is bent 35 .filter-unit attachment in one way, and having an as shown. to form a projection. By this means, index at the bottom of the filter-unit indicating even though the axis 2g, which is coincident the proper manner of insertion, and by means with the axis of the tobacco-bowl is: inclined to of which an opening of the lter-unit is made to the plane 2f, the edges 2k are parallel to the register with an opening of the smoke-transplane 2f, which plane is parallel to the bottom 40 mission conduit. plane of the tobacco-pipe, shown at Illa, Fig. '7.

These objects and others, will be better under- At 6c is an orice, for registering with the stood by reference to the accompanying drawopening 6b of the smoke-transmission conduit 6a ing and the following specification, and are iurinto the side of the hole 2 through the bottom ther pointed out in the appended claims. of the tobacco-bowl member 6, Fig. 7, and 8. At 45 Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows aplan- 2c is a. rivet-hole, one side of the hole being view oi a T-shaped member from which a part of counter-sunk, as illustrated at 2e. When. the the filter-unit attachment is formed. part 2a is formed into a cylindrically-shaped Fig. 2 shows the T-shaped member after it has member, a small gap 2h remains, and by this been formed into a cylindrically-shaped expansimeans the relatively stiff sheet metal cylinder 50 ble member with a projection, a central sectional permits a contraction in diameter by means of View being Shown. lateral pressure upon 2a., and can be. inserted Fig. 3 shows another view of Fig. 2, from the into the hole 2, after which it binds itself tightly top of the cylindrically-shaped expansible memwithin the hole 2. ber. Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 6a, at dais a 55 cover-member for the bottom plane la of the tobacco-pipe, and having the enlargement 4, for covering the part of the bottom plane immediately below the hole 2 through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl, as shown in Fig. 7. At 4d is another rivet-hole, for registering with the rivethole 2c, the member 4a being riveted to the projection 2b by means of the rivet 5, which has a relatively thin head, and a riveted portion 5a Within the countersunk part 2e of the hole 2c. At 4c, is a small indentation, and at 4b is a corresponding small projection.

Referring to Figs. '7, 8, and 9, a straight-stem tobacco-pipe is shown, having a tobacco-bowl member 5, a smoke-transmission conduit 6a, a smoking-stem 'i with conduit 'Ib connected with the smoke-transmission conduit Ba, a mouth-piece id, and a hole 2, through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl. The bore 8a of the tobacco-bowl i is slightly larger than the hole 2, as shown, and may be tapered. The effective bore is determined as shown, by the layer of carbon 8, which results after use of the pipe. The only preparation of the tobacco-pipe necessary for use with the filterunit attachment is illustrated in Fig. 7. At Il and 1c is shown a part of the normal bottom plane of a straight-stem pipe, the plane I l normally eX- tending up to the bottom of the tobacco-bowl I, in a pV pe not prepared for use with the filter-unit attachment. By means of an abrasive-wheel, or otherwise, the plane Illa-40 is cut, parallel to II-l'c, and of sufiicient depth into the pipe to accommodate the thickness of the cover-member 4a, so that the bottom of 4a is coplariar with 5 l-'lc when the filter-unit attachment is in position. A hole 2 is cut through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl and through the plane loa-ID. At 50c is a groove countersunk into the body of the tobacco-bowl member, for accommodating the projection 2b. This groove is preferably countersunk slightly deeper than the thickness of the projection 2b. By this means the small bending moment exerted upon the member 2b causes the cover-member lia to be pulled down tightly against the plane leaf-I0. A small indentation at i012, serves to accommodate the projection 4b, and to hold the cover-member in a position normally covering the bottom of the hole 2. The lower edge 2k serves as a ledge, against which a gasket-member illustrated in Fig. 10c, may be pressed by the cover-member 4a. A conventional smoking-stem is attached to the tobacco-bowl member 6, as illustrated at la.

Among the advantages of this form of filterunit attachment are the simplicity of the structure for securing and maintaining a tightly f1tting cover-member, Without recourse to screws or pins into the body of the pipe. As the smoketransmission conduit is usually a thin-walled structure, there is little material for securing and maintaining a tight pivot by screws or pins, and such resilience as is attainable With a screw pivot may result in stripping the screw-threads. The form of attachment here disclosed can be readily removed, if desired, without mutilation of the stiucture of the tobacco-bowl member. The fricticnal pressure of the expansible member against the sides of the hole 2 can be readily adjusted, and the corresponding pressure of the covermember against the plane 10a-I0, by reason of the slightly greater depth of the groove |00 than the thickness of the projection 2b. The covermember may be finished with any metal plating desired, and when finished with a natural wood coating the attachment; present a minimum deviation in appearance from conventional forms of tobacco-pipe.

Referring to Figs. l0, 10a, 10b, and 10c, part of a strip of liquid-absorbent material, is illustrated at 9, Fig. 10, and at 9j is a spacer-strip, preferably of the same material, and obtained by folding over a part of the strip 9, as shown.. If desired, however, a separate strip of liquid-absorbent material may be used for the spacer-strip. The liquid-absorbent material of the strips may be for example, a highly absorbent paper. The thickness indicated in Fig. 10a, is only for purposes of illustration, and is preferably much thinner than illustrated, in order to secure a large number of convolutions within the available inside diameter of the expansible member 2a. At 9a, are perforations through the strip 9. The strip 9, is spirally-wound, the spacer-strip 9) being concentrically spirally-wound along with 9, and the end 9m of the outermost convolution is secured to 'the adjacent convolution to hold the convolutions in a tightly wound condition, for example by an adhesive at the edge 9m. The spacer-strip thus provides an annular bottom for the spiral convolutions, above which there are numerous channels between the walls of the strip 9. Another important feature of the filter-unit is the modified spacing of the perforations 9a, to accomplish a peripheral displacement of the perforations for a group of outer convolutions, so that for the outer group of convolutions, a perforation of any convolution is peripherally displaced in relation to the corresponding perforation of the adjacent convolution. The number and size of periorations shown, is only for purposes of illustration, it being understood that the perforations can be arranged so that there are for example, one, or two, or more per convolution. Whatever the number, the spacing is modified so that there will be a peripheral displacement. This is illustrated, for example in Fig. 10b, one of the perforations of the adjacent inner convolution being evident through the perforation 9a of the outermost convolution; a preferred amount of peripheral displacement however being such that periorations of adjacent convolutions of an outer group of convolutions do not register with each other. By this means the number of curved paths through which a mixture of tobaccopar ticles, tobacco-tar, and tobacco-smoke must pass before emerging from the filter-unit into the smoke-transmission conduit is greatly increased, and the efciency of the filter increased correspondingly.

Such a modification of spacing, as illustrated for example at 9g, 9h, and 92', is obtainable in various ways; it may be obtained for example by drawing a paper tape with spacer-strip under a punch, the paper tape and spacer-strip being spirally-Wound and advancing the unwound portion during the released part of the punch-stroke. A perforation may be determined, for example, every half revolution of the spiral convolution, that is, during each release stroke of the punch the spiral winding may be advanced a half revolution. Because of the increasing diameter of the spiral winding, caused by the spacer-strip and paper tape, a perforation will be Wound upon a larger circumference than the circumference which initially determined the spacing of the perforation; a displacement of the perforations can thus be obtained7 or by otherwise modifying the amount of advance of the spiral Winding for each release stroke of the punch, and in relation to Aof handling tar-coated parts, and

vthe number of turns or convolutions of the spiral winding.

At 9C, Fig. 10c, is shown a gasket-member. The

gasket-member is preferably of liquid-absorbing ber may be used Ito seal the bottom of the hole 2,

Whether or not a iilter as illustrated in Fig. 10b is used. This arrangement provides easy access to the bottom of the pipe for cleaning, when used in this manner.

A preferred arrangement, however, giving the best mode of application of this invention, ccnsists in using both the gasket-member 9c and the filter 9, and preferably with the filter 9 attached to 9c, so that one of the perforations 9a of the outermost convolution is nearest to the notch 97C, and registers with 9k. With this arrangement, the filter will always be properly inserted into 2a, since there is only one way the gasket-member fits into the bottom of the hole 2. By attaching the gasket-member to the bottom of 9, for example with adhesive applied at a portion of 9c opposite the notch 9k, a complete filter-unit is obtained, and @c is sufficiently free to accommodate itself to the small angular displacement of the axis of the tobacco-bowl from the vertical.

It will be evident that with the invention here disclosed, the lter-unit attachment provides the necessary tightness of fit of the cover-member, without recourse to screws or pins through the body of the tobacco-pipe, and that the necessary degree of tightness can be readily maintained, and if desired adjusted, by axial displacement of the member 2a which is tightly held by friction within the hole 2. In operation, a used iilterunit is readily ejected without the necessity of dismembering the pipe, and without the necessity of further cleaning of ducts. To eject a used filter-unit, the pipe is held over an ash receiver, the covermember ta displaced, and the used filter-unit pushed out through the bottom by means of a match-stick, for example.

While I have shown .and described certain forms and arrangements of parts, to illustrate my invention, it will be evident that numerous changes can be made, and within the spirit of my invention 'as further set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A filter-unit attachment in combination with a tobacco-pipe having a tobacco-bowl member, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl, and a smoke-transmission conduit opening into the side of said hole, said filter-unit attachment having an expansible member for tightly and concentrically fitting said hole, an, orifice for registering with the said opening of the smoketransmission conduit into said hole, and a pivoted member pivotally fastened to said expansible member, for readily covering and uncovering the bottom of said hole.

2. In a tobacco-pipe having a tobacco-bowl member, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco bowl, and a smoke-transmission conduit opening into the side of said hole, a filterunit attachment having an expansible member tightly and concentrically filtering said hole, a projection connected with said expansible member and countersunk into the tobacco-bowl member, an orifice in said expansible member registering with the said opening of the smoketransmission conduit into said hole, a pivoted member pivotally fastened to said projection, for readily covering and uncovering the bottom of said hole, and means for holding said pivoted member in a position normaly covering said hole.

3. In combination with claim 2, a filter-unit for said filter-unit attachment, said filter-unit having a gasket-member concentrically iitting the bottom of said hole, between the pivoted member and the expansible member, a notch in said gasket member registering with said projection, a liquid-absorbing structure concentrically fitting said expansible member, directly contacting the tobacco in the tobacco-bowl, and having a multiplicity of indirect passages leading from the tobacco to said orifice independent of inherent small openings throughout the material of said liquid-absorbing structure, and a fastening means for securely fastening the gasket-member to said liquid-absorbing structure.

4. In combination with claim 2, a iilter-unit for said attachment, for concentrically fitting said expansible member, for directly Acontacting the tobacco in the tobacco-bowl, and for extending across said orifice, said filter-unit having a spira-lly-wound liquid-absorbent strip, a. concentrically spirally-wound spacer-strip of smaller width than the liquid-absorbent strip, a series of perforations in the liquid-absorbent strip so spaced that for the outer convolutions of the spirial of the liquid-absorbent strip the perforations of any convolution are peripherally displaced in relation to the perforaticns of an adjacent convolution, and binding means for binding the end of the outermost convolution to an adjacent convolution.

5. In combination with claim 2, a gasketmember for said attachment, for concentrically fitting said hole, between the pivoted member and the expansible member, said gasket-member having a notch for registering with said projection.

6. In `a tobacco-pipe having a tobacco-bowl member, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl and a smoke-transmission conduit opening into the side of said hole, a filter-unit attachment having an expansible member tightly and concentrically fitting said hole, a projection connected with said expansible member and countersunk into the tobacco-bowl member, an orifice in said expansible member registering with the said opening of the smoke-transmission conduit into said hole, a pivoted member pivotally fastened to said projection for readily covering and uncovering the bottom of said hole, a holding means for holding said pivoted member in a position normally covering said hole, and a iilterunit in said filter-unit attachment; said lterunit having a spirally-wound liquid-absorbent strip, a concentrically spirally-wound spacerstrip of smaller width than the liquid-absorbent strip, a series of perforations in the liquidabsorbent strip so spaced that for the outer convolutions of the spiral of liquid-absorbent strip the perforations-of any convolution are peripherally displaced in relation to the perforations of an adjacent convolution, binding means for binding the end of the outermost convolution to an adjacent convolution, and a gasket-member between the pivoted member and said expansible member.

'7. In a tobacco-pipe With a tobacco-bowl, a 75 hole through the bottom o'f said bowl and a smoke-transmission conduit opening into said hole, a filter-unit attachment, said attachment having a cylindrically-shaped member for concentrically fitting the hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl, said member having an oriiice for registering with said opening of the smoketransmission conduit into said hole, and a projection; and a pivoted member pivotally attached to said projection, for covering and uncovering the bottom of the tobacco-bowl.

8. A filter-unit for tobacco-pipes, said iiiterunit having a spirally-Wound liquid-absorbent strip, a concentrically spirally-wound spacerstrip of smaller width than the liquid-absorbent strip, forming a closed end along one edge of the spiral convolutions, a series of perforations along the liquid-absorbent strip and through said strip, so spaced that for the outer convolutions of the spiral of liquid-absorbent strip the perforations of any convolution are peripherally displaced in relation to the perforations of an adjacent convolution, whereby a mixture of tobaccosxnoke and tobacco-liquid is constrained to flow along a multiplicity of axial paths between the convolutions, and along a multiplicity of radial paths between the convolutions, before emerging from the filter-unit.

9. In combination with claim 7, a filter-unit insertable into said cylindrically-shaped member through the bottom of said member, and having a gasket-member capable of being covered and firmly held against the bottom of said cylindrically-shaped member by said pivoted member, for sealing the bottom of the tobacco-pipe.

10. In combination with claim 7, a iilter-unit insertable into said cylindrically-shaped member from the bottom of said member, capable of direct contact with the tobacco in said bowl, and of absorbing tobacco-liquid and tobacco-particles, and permitting free passage of tobacco-smoke from the tobacco to said orifice, said filter-unit being removable from said cylindrically-shaped member without dismembering the tobacco-pipe.

11. An attachment for tobacco-pipes, said attachment being formed from a T-shaped member,

one part of which is formed into an expansibl'e cylinder, the other part of which is formed into a projection, and having a pivoted member pivotally attached to said projection, and an orifice in said expansible cylinder.

12. An attachmentfor a tobacco-pipe with a tobacco-bowl, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl and a smoke-transmission conduit opening into said hole, said attachment having a cylindrically-shaped member for insertion into said hole, and a cover-member attached to said cylindrically-shaped member, whereby the bottom of said hole may be readily covered or uncovered without detaching said cover-member.

13. An attachment for a tobacco-pipe having a tobacco-bowl and a hole through the bottom of said bowl, said attachment being formed in part from a T-shaped member, one part of which is formed into an expansible cylinder for fitting said hole, the other part of which is formed into a projection, and a cover-member for said hole permanently attached to said projection.

14. A tobacco-pipe attachment for a tobaccopipe having a tobacco-bowl, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl, and a smoke-transmission conduit, said attachment having a sleevemember for tightly iitting the bottom of said hole, an opening in the wall of said sleevemember registering with said smoke-transmission conduit for transmitting smoke thereto and a cover-member attached to said sleeve-member, for covering and uncovering the bottom of said hole.

15. A tobacco-pipe having a tobacco-bowl, a hole through the bottom of the tobacco-bowl connected with a smoke-transmission conduit, a sleeve-member capable of being securely held by friction in the bottom of said hole, a covermember permanently attached to said sleevemember, for covering and uncovering said hole, and a iilter-unit within said sleeve-member, insertable through the bottom of said sleeve-member, and interposed between the tobacco and said smoke-transmission conduit.

EDWARD H. LANGE- 

